Response to Scotland’s green heating plans

Scotland’s electrical association SELECT has warned that “significant investment” is needed to ensure there is a sufficiently skilled workforce to install new domestic heating technology and meet net zero targets safely.

The warning follows the association’s response to a recent Scottish Government consultation into the New Build Heat Standard, which is due for launch in April 2024 to reduce carbon emissions from the Scottish building stock.

SELECT says that while it agrees with the standard’s aim of regulating direct emissions heating in new buildings, rolling out greener options could bring unintended consequences, pointing out that Zero direct emissions heating (ZDEH) installations may impact on the consumer’s electrical installation and require the upgrading of some aspects of the consumer’s distribution equipment.

The association says is concerned that the industry doesn’t have sufficient capacity to undertake the levels of expected ZDEH installations and questions whether the availability of sufficient skilled and competent installers been considered.

SELECT also warns that the capital and operating costs of ZDEH systems are more costly than most traditional sources, which could mean that poorer households would be left to use older, and possibly redundant, systems well beyond their intended lifespans.

It recommends a phased introduction of ZDEH systems based on property size, with the tariff structures for electricity be reviewed to provide a wider range of choice for users to make the transition more appealing.

Bob Cairney, director of technical services at SELECT, comments: “We all understand the importance of making the move to a net zero society and reducing our carbon footprint, but at the same time it is important to be realistic and recognise the impact on all householders.

“In this consultation, we are suggesting that all plans are looked at and revised properly and the practical timescales and costings are taken into account when developing targets to ensure Scotland is ready for the technology of tomorrow.”